The dangers of short circuits are way too great to ignore. It can cause a lot of damages to you and your property including fire hazards, explosions, equipment damage, electric shocks, burn, injuries, and even fatalities. In an estimation, electric short circuits accounted for 6.3% of all residential fire hazard occurred in the US between 2014 to 2016 alone. The number increased to 23% in 2020. An electric short circuit is no joke and considering the probable distractions and damages it is capable of, this should not be neglected. But to properly prevent a short circuit, it is important to know why it happens in the first place. Here in this blog, we will discuss everything about short circuits and some effective ways to prevent short circuits
Short circuit
In the simplest term, a short circuit is a problem in an electrical circuit. It occurs when two or more wires come in contact with each other where they are not supposed to. Sometimes a short circuit can occur even when the wires are not touching each other. They may come in contact with different types of conductive materials including water or other liquid, metals, and others. When this happens, it produces heat and causes burn and fire.
Why short circuit happens
There are plenty of reasons as to why a short circuit may occur. Here are some of the most common reasons for causing a short circuit.
Insulation defect: Insulating materials such as PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), PE (Polyethylene), or Nylon prevents wires from exposing and conducting electricity to another wire or other conductive materials when they unintentionally come in contact. Old or faulty insulation permits neutral and live wires to touch, and thus, may cause a short circuit.
Loose Connections: Just like all kinds of attachments, electric attachments can loosen as well. And loose connection sometimes allows the neutral and live wires to touch leading to short circuits.
Household Pests: Household animals or pests like mice, rats, and squirrels can chew on wires leading it to expose the metal. This can sometimes cause neutral and live wires to cross and cause a short circuit.
Damaged Appliances: Electronic appliances are prone to many damages. The older they get the more susceptible they become to malfunction. So there is a chance that they can develop short circuits over time. That is why it is necessary to get them changed or inspected by a technician regularly when they get older.
Here are some ways to prevent short circuits at home:
Use power bars and multi-plug outlet adapters carefully
Using more than one power adapter per electrical outlet is something that we frequently do. A lot of electrical damages occurs because of that including short circuits. Plugging more than one adapter per electrical outlet can overload the outlet and cause a short circuit. So never plug more than one power bar or multi-plug outlet adapter per electrical outlet. One of the ways to prevent short circuits is to use them when you absolutely need to in order to plug in all your electronics.
Avoid running power cable underneath carpet and rugs
Running a power cable underneath the carpet, rugs, or other high traffic areas of the house is another common scenario in most households. It is easy to wire out the cords of these cables by walking them over repeatedly. Also, if you have pets then, there is a high chance that they might chew on the cable causing a short circuit in the process. Run power cords along the walls instead to avoid wearing them out.
Keep the cord away from heat and water sources
Heat and moisture both are dangerous and can damage electrical wiring and cause short circuits in the process. So avoid running power cables through places such as bathrooms, washing machine station, kitchen floor, and counter.
Carry out a yearly electrical inspection
As mentioned before electrical equipment are prone to malfunction if not taken care of properly. Get your home’s electrical system checked at least once a year and make sure everything is working properly. They will be able to identify any issues like faulty or worn-out wiring and outlets and repair them before anything happens. Also, check your electrical appliances regularly and have them serviced if you notice any abnormalities such as weird smells or sounds. This way there will be no or little chance of short circuits.
Accidents caused by short circuits have always been the most recurring phenomenon in any electrical system. As a result, along with deteriorating the systems, it can cause more serious consequences. So follow these tips to prevent short circuits in your home and keep everyone safe.
